[SatNews] Thales Alenia Space has signed a new framework contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) concerning the EGNOS navigation system.

Artistic rendition of EGNOS on orbit.

Image courtesy of ESA.

The contract will enable ESA, delegated by the European Commission, to order work packages from Thales Alenia Space France for the period 2014-2017, to develop new versions of EGNOS V2. Designed to ensure the continuous improvement of EGNOS performance, these new versions will guarantee optimum service quality for users, while also addressing the need to manage obsolescence. Thales Alenia Space is the prime contractor for EGNOS, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System, which is designed to improve the positioning signals delivered by the GPS satellite navigation system. EGNOS was deployed starting in 2005, and has been operational since 2009, for open service. The system's "Safety of Life" service was officially declared operational in March 2011, and allows it to be used for aircraft landing, enabling precision approaches to European airports without ground guidance aids.

"The signature of this framework contract with ESA, in the presence of GSA*, marks a decisive new step for Europe's EGNOS navigation system," noted Philippe Blatt, head of the Navigation business line at Thales Alenia Space France. "We are already prime contractor for the Galileo Mission Segment (GMS), the Galileo Security Facility (GSF) and the Galileo system. This latest contract confirms Thales Alenia Space's position as the European leader in satellite navigation, a position we have held for over 20 years."

The Thales Alenia Space infosite is located at https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/space

ESA's EGNOS infosite is accessible via http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Navigation/The_present_-_EGNOS/What_is_EGNOS

* GSA: European GNSS Agency